Suit Threatens Island Haven For Survivalists

TAVARES — It started out as a survivalist's dream - an island in a river in Florida with only causeway access, a haven of safety created in anticipation of society's demise.

Last Resort Fish Camp Association Inc. was touted as only one tankful of gas away from nearly anywhere in Florida, a refuge for like-minded people when the unthinkable occurred.

FOR THE RECORD - ***************** CORRECTION PUBLISHED APRIL 18, 1990 ********************* Because of an editing error, Last Resort Fish Camp Association Inc.'s location was reported incorrectly Tuesday in the Lake Sentinel. Last Resort is on Big Pine Island, which is at the mouth of the Oklawaha River on the northern end of Lake Griffin.****************************************************************************

But there's trouble in paradise. On Monday, the camp's founders, directors and some of its residents faced each other in a Lake County courtroom at the start of a marathon civil lawsuit.

Last Resort, founded in 1977 and tucked away at the mouth of the Oklawaha River at the north end of Lake Griffin, was advertised as a protected retreat for those who wanted a haven should society's normal safeguards fail.

The camp location, also known as Pine Island, has a narrow, two-lane causeway connecting the marshy island with the mainland. The founders pointed out that it could be easily dynamited during times of war or civil strife, thus preventing easy access.

There were also promises of underground water, sewer, telephone and power systems, as well as a wind-driven generator, should normal commercial power sources be disrupted.

Court documents show Last Resort was started in April 1977, when the island was purchased. It was incorporated three months later.

Retired Boca Raton veterinarian Ron Hopwood, along with Lake County resident Kenneth Dawes, started the association.

Members who bought into the association were given 99-year proprietary leases for parcels measuring at about two-fifths of an acre.

Houses sprang up on the island and a large tower-like structure was erected that at one time had a wind-driven turbine on top.

Few problems surfaced immediately. Residents asked for and received county and state permission to extend the canal to encircle their property.

But the residents of Pine Island will be telling a Lake County Circuit Court judge this week that the sewer and water systems built to serve the property are illegal, and that developers have squirreled away as much as $650,000 in hidden profits.

They also claim in the lawsuit that they were billed for construction of the canal and a community building even though developers were supposed to pay for them.

The founders, Russ wrote, ''have demonstrated a need to control their flock of survivalist followers in much the same manner Jim Jones had a need to control his flock in Jonestown . . . what occurred at Last Resort Fish Camp Association Inc. was the same type of phenomenon resulting from the same 'Jim Jones' mentality, but on a lesser scale.''

In the past, residents of Last Resort have not been known to be overly friendly. On several occasions, boat operators venturing into the canals that ring the island have been warned by residents - sometimes armed - to stay off the property.

Sheriff's officials say that over the past several years they have received no compaints from the island's secretive residents - or about them.

On Monday, however, both defendants and plaintiffs offered to meet with reporters later during the trial and explain their claims and their lifestyle.

The lawsuit is a large collection of claims, counterclaims, documents, letters and exhibits.

Last year, clerks spent a week numbering and filing more than 1,000 pieces of evidence in the case. There were six lawyers present in the courtroom Monday, representing various parties to the lawsuit.

That evidence will be heard during a non-jury hearing before Judge Mark Hill, which is expected to last three weeks.

Here are the major issues in the case:

- The founders of Last Resort, Hopwood and Dawes, are suing because they claim they were denied voting and controlling rights by the camp's board of directors.

- Hopwood and his two partners, Dawes and Neil J. LaHurd, are being sued by the residents on dozens of allegations, including fraud and stashing secret profits.

- Nine property owners, who have formed a group called Save Pine Island Now Everyone, are suing the Last Resort board of directors for wasting the association's money by pursuing a lawsuit against Hopwood and Dawes.

Among potential witnesses, three current or former Lake County judges may be called to testify:

- Earle W. Peterson, former circuit and current state appellate judge, was once an attorney for the camp association before he was appointed to the bench.

- William G. Law, currently a county judge, once served as a private attorney for the association.

- Richard W. ''Red'' Boylston, current county judge, is expected to be called to counter the testimony of one of the witnesses in the case.

The trial is being held on the fourth floor of the Old Lake County Courthouse.